First Quarter Books

olliesmommy1005 · Jul 27, 2011

We had a HUGE list our first semester as well, but the good thing is, you don't have to buy books for any other semester! I don't recognize any of the books on your list, but it's just due to the different program's preference on authors, etc. For first semester, we mostly used the Fundementals (Basic Nursing more than likely on your list), but there is always supplemental reading you can do to help you clarify the subject material.

I bought everything on my required list and a couple of the supplementals during my first semester. You will definately need the skills book and the nursing diagnosis book prior to clinicals.

You can always ask your instructors what books are absolutely necessary for first semester and which ones you may be able to hold off on buying if money is tight, it certainly is not cheap first semester!

BacktotheBeach, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2011

Wow, just check online sources like half.com or Amazon before buying all that from the bookstore. It's hard to say exactly what you will use from that list. every program is different.

mommywithplenty · Jul 27, 2011

I haven't got my book list yet as I don't get to choose my time table yet. January start's list was huge...

Despareux · Jul 27, 2011

Sounds about right for fundamentals. I probably spent about $1300 (maybe more) on books and supplies my first quarter. It was mind boggling.

sweepea · Jul 27, 2011

Your list looks very similar to what I had when i was in school ( 6 yrs ago) -as for your recommended.... I got the Dillon pocket assessment guide & the Tabers Dictionary - both came in very handy for me -- when you start out you will be writing TONS of care plans so keep that in mind - find a GOOD care plan reference book !!! - as for the NCLEX books , I would hold off on those ( save $$$$) my advice to you would be get all your requireds then wait until you "get your feet wet" it may give you a better idea of what will vs will not be especially beneficial/ applicable - you can always get them later - and like an above post mentioned - check Amazon or Ebay for books - I save a TON there !!! :)

Milla9436 · Jul 27, 2011

This is quite a list . Anyone have experience with any of these? Which ones are a must and which ones could I maybe do without? Any help would be much appreciated!
Required:
Basic Nursing by Potter & Perry
Nursing Health Assessment: A Critical Thinking, Case Studies Approach by Dillion
Nursing Health Assessment: Student Applications by Dillion
Taylors Clinical Nursing Skills by Lynn
Nursing Diagnosis Handbook by Wilkinson & Ahern
Nursing Process and Critical Thinking by Wilkinson
Publication Manual of American Psychological Association
Cultural Diversity in Health and Illness by Spector
Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook 2011 by Hodgson, & Kizior
Prentice Hall Handbook of Lab and Diagnostic Tests by Kee
Manual of Nursing Diagnosis by Gordon
Recommended:
Nursing Health Assessment, Clinical Pocket Guide by Dillion
Nursing Care Plans: Guidelines for Individualizing by Doenges & Moorhouse
Kaplan NCLEX-RN exam 2008-2009 by Irwin
Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary by Venes
Clinical Coach for Nursing Excellence by Campbell & Gilbert
NCLEX review 4000 by Lippincott
I think that about sums it up haha

The required text look like the list I received my first semester last year. At my school they put most of the books in a box and we just purchased the box, with a couple others separately ($500 +). Good thing is that you will probably use a good amount of these books during nursing school. I would highly recommend Amazon.com, I used this site for my second semester classes and I saved a great deal of money. As far as the recommended books, contact your profs and see if they recommend one of the books to be purchased now and see what you can hold off on. Like I already said, please look into Amazon, you can sign up for a prime account and receive some purchases with free two day shipping. Good luck!!!

VeniVidiVici · Jul 27, 2011

I hear you guys on the amazon thing, I always buy my books there. I dont understand why people pay all that extra money in the school bookstores. Ive already spent close to $1000 on everything (ATI testing, drug testing, uniforms etc) and thats not including any books. This is getting crazy!

lemidora · Jul 27, 2011

Potter& Perry will be your unwanted best friend for a long time, same goes for the APA manual. All the other books sound pretty similar to the ones I use but have different authors. Personally, I bought all the textbooks that were marked "required" for my first year and used all of them at one point or another

sandanrnstudent · Jul 27, 2011

Publication Manual of American Psychological Association

for this book, you can just reference the internet. The only use you have it for is APA Style documentation and page layouts for assignments. (rule like double spacing, how big the margins can be, how to sight different sources, etc.)

Hope this helps you avoid having to buy that one. Although, if you don't have good internet access the book is usually about $10 and at that point necessary.

sandan rnstudent

Twinmom06, ASN, APN · Jul 27, 2011

its funny - the 1st semester books on my list that are "recommended" are suddenly "required" for 2nd semester - so it looks like most of those books will build on each other and be used at some point - which means they won't have to be purchased again...

lemidora · Jul 27, 2011

Publication Manual of American Psychological Association
for this book, you can just reference the internet. The only use you have it for is APA Style documentation and page layouts for assignments. (rule like double spacing, how big the margins can be, how to sight different sources, etc.)
Hope this helps you avoid having to buy that one. Although, if you don't have good internet access the book is usually about $10 and at that point necessary.
sandan rnstudent

It all depends on how strict the instructors are about APA. At my school we can easily go down a whole letter grade on a paper if our referencing isn't textbook perfect according to the APA manual. The internet often doesn't have accurate information on proper referencing and it's easier to dispute your grade if you were going exactly by the book. I'd say find out how much emphasis is being put on formatting and referencing when your papers are being graded before you decide not to buy the book.